El Reg has an in-depth review of the XO laptop. They conclude: "There's a lot to like about the XO laptop. It's tough, it's great as an eBook reader, it has a big (for its category), high resolution screen. It runs silent and cool, has good battery life, and the clean design of the Sugar interface is easy to use. But several areas need work. The browser should be replaced by Firefox, and the Journal needs to support folders to match how people actually organise their work and play. Multimedia performance needs to be improved, which can hopefully be done through software. The XO needs a unified media player that supports all media types, along with playlists, and should be integrated with the UI. Most of these changes come down to the OLPC organisation placing more emphasis on real-world usability and less on their ideals of a perfect interface. If they can manage to do this, the XO laptop could be a great tool for learning and play."

Feel free to mod down this rant.
OLPC is noble idea to improve knowledge of third world kids. Look at real picture. Kids in USA having advanced computing facilities available trail 22nd or 15th in math and science worldwide. Why? It is not a technology is important. It is methodology and surrounding is important. If US kids can't learn with their stomoch filled with big mac and supersized fries, why do someone expect kids from third world, with hunger fire in their empty stomoch learn this high tech gadget?
Why not experiment OLPC as prototype with kids in USA and see if technology really helps or not. Then only Negroponte has moral right to preach world about his cause-or-scam theme.